Free Novella - The first Short Story of The Geneva Project: Prequel Series by Christina Benjamin

The first Short Story of The Geneva Project: Prequel series is finally here!!! And it’s FREE for a limited time.

Before the ancient legend of Lux was discovered, before she realized her power, before she had a destiny to fulfill: Geneva was just a lonely orphan at Christmas. Get a glimpse into the early days of Geneva and Remi's lives at the Troian Center. There's always a little bit of high jinx, mystery and magic happening on Hullabee Island and the holiday season is no exception. Discover how Geneva and Remi forged a friendship that bonded them for life and made them “thick as thieves,” in this heartwarming Christmas tale where we discover that sometimes finding true friendship is the greatest gift of all.

http://amzn.com/1519334435

About the Author:
Award-winning young adult author Christina Benjamin fell in love with the magic of words at an early age. Benjamin’s writing hooks fans of mega-hit YA fiction like Harry Potter and Hunger Games, and offers them a new series to obsess over. She paints a vivid world, where magic and imagination run wild in her epic tale of adventure, courage and friendship.

Christina now lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets. She spends most of her time writing. Benjamin is dedicated to giving back to the community and speaking at schools to inspire creativity in young writers. When she has free time she enjoys to read, listen to music, shop and travel.


Follow the author!
https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/TheGenevaProjectBook?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/AuthorCBenjamin
https://instagram.com/authorcbenjamin/
https://instagram.com/thegenevaprojectbook_fanpage
http://authorchristinabenjamin.tumblr.com/
https://google.com/+ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://youtube.com/c/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
http://christinabenjaminauthor.com/
http://www.thegenevaprojectbook.com/
https://squareup.com/market/thegenevaprojectstore
http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Benjamin/e/B009UZM14O/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6588515.Christina_Benjamin

Link to Trivia Quiz on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/results/29658

Book Trailer




I do hope you all go grab this awesome little freebie!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Is This Me? and Prep for Doom - Sales and Freebies!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I have a freebie and a sale for you all. I know you're excited, so I won't waste time with a long intro. Let's just dive in, shall we?

First up, a FREEBIE!
Title: Is This Me? (Being Me Vol 1)
Author: Tricia Copeland
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 382 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle FREE (as of this posting)

Blurb:
Have you ever chosen a path that led you astray?

Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”

Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?


Now, a book on SALE!
Title: Prep for Doom
Authors: E.R. Arroyo, Laura Albins, Amy Bartelloni, Brea Behn, Casey L Bond, T.K. Carter, Kate Corcino, Harlow C Fallon, Kelsey D. Hancock, Casey Hays, Kate L. Mary, Jon Messenger, Yvonne Ventresca, Megan White, and DelSheree Gladden
Genre: Dystopian Anthology
Length (print): 390 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $1.99 (as of this posting)

Blurb:
From the imaginations of twenty authors of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction comes PREP FOR DOOM - an integrated collection of short stories that tell the tale of a single catastrophe as experienced by many characters, some of whom will cross paths.

What begins with a seemingly innocuous traffic accident soon spirals into a global pandemic. The release of Airborne Viral Hemorrhagic Fever upon New York City’s unsuspecting populace brings bloody suffering within hours, death within a day, and spreads worldwide within a month.

An online community called Prep For Doom has risen to the top of a recent doomsday preparation movement. Some have written them off as crazy while others couldn’t be more serious about the safety the preppers could provide in a global disaster. But when AVHF strikes, their preparation may not be enough to save them.

What are you waiting for? Go get them right now. *grin*

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Free Books for You Today

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have a short list of free books for you to check out. Who needs a great read? You do! Get your clicking finger ready and let's get going!

Disclaimer: These books are free at time of posting. Please check the price before you one click. Also, I haven't read these titles, so I can't recommend one way or the other. You decide.

Let's GOOOO!

Title: The Dimension Thieves Episode #1
Author: Misty Provencher
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi
Buy Links: Amazon  ~  B&N  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo

Blurb:
Nominated for Serial Series of the Year at UtopYA Conference, 2015.

EPISODE 1 in The Dimension Series. Clean action/adventure read, suitable for ages 13 and up.

The Dimension Series is a series of serial shorts, releasing once a month from January to December 2015. It is a clean, New Adult series also suitable for some Young Adult readers, due to mild language, mild violence. However, readers who do not enjoy exciting cliffhangers, or look forward to the mouth-watering anticipation of month-to-month episodes should be warned...if you lay eyes on this story...THERE IS NO GOING BACK.

Antythera is the new Earth.
Why?
Because that’s what President Baro, ruler of the planet, wants to call it.
And if you don’t agree, the President will have you Droned.

The world has become a much smaller place since the lower and middle classes have been converted to mindless servants.  Free will, granted only to the elite, is in jeopardy of complete extinction.  

But Force Steele, son to one of the President’s highest ranking advisors, can’t live under the thumb of his controlling father, or the President, any longer. Force has dedicated himself to eradicating Droning, but when the President orders the Antidote Gear destroyed—the part of the machine that could free the drones by reversing the program that controls them—all is lost. Lacking necessary materials, there is literally no way in Force’s world to replace the one-of-a-kind gear.

Force’s only choice is to partner with shifty mechanic, Calerbius Brown, and embark on a risky mission that will take Force and his rag-tag crew across the lateral dimensions, where they must often steal materials—even from themselves—in order to fix their own dwindling world.

Title: Haunted
Author: Willow Cross
Genre: Supernatural Ghosts & Hauntings
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:
Have you ever heard something go bump in the night and wondered if someone was there? Only to go looking for the cause of the noise and find nothing at all. Or how about unexplainably feeling like you’re being watched when you’re completely alone? Things disappearing for no reason or strange ghostly footsteps in the hall?

This book is a collage of short stories about a few of the otherworldly experiences I’ve had. Although they are not movie worthy, you may find them interesting. All the stories are %100 true. Nothing has been added for dramatic effect.


 
Title: Ta Ta for Now (Stories About Melissa Book 1)
Author: Bethany Lopez
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:
Melissa begins her freshman year with one goal in mind, getting Brian Jackson to be her boyfriend. She will soon learn that things don't necessarily turn out the way you plan them, the value of true friendship, and the importance of family.

The Stories about Melissa series is a coming of age series that follows Melissa, her family, and her friends. Similar to Sweet Valley High, each book is novella length. There will be eight books in the series.

Stories about Melissa reading order:

Ta Ta for Now!
xoxoxo
Ciao
TTYL
With Love
Book 6 ~ Coming Soon!

Title: Patriotic Duty (Duty and Desire Book 1)
Author: C. J. Pinard
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Military Romance
Buy Links: Amazon U. S.  ~  Amazon U. K.  ~  iBooks  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play Books

Blurb:
Newly divorced party girl Cara Reid just wants to have fun. Much too young to even be a divorcee, she and her bestie, Miranda, set off to have fun and maybe a few casual hookups and live life. One night at a military bar, Cara meets Riley Forrester, a hot Army soldier who makes her melt with one look of his deep ocean blue eyes. But Riley is only staying the summer in California and then has to go back to Colorado when it's over. Cara tells herself he’s just a summer fling and is determined to enjoy herself and let him go once the summer is over. But when Riley receives orders he wasn’t expecting, she’s forced to make a decision on whether she’s going to be there for him when he gets back, or move on with her life. What she wasn't expecting was to fall so hard for the beautiful soldier boy, and now she's faced with accepting her feelings or letting him go.

Contains adult content. For readers 18 and up.

Patriotic Duty is book 1 in the Duty & Desire series, and while it's recommended to read them in order, it's not necessary. 

Title: The Conduit (The Gryphon Series Book 1)
Author: Stacey Rourke
Genre: Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:
All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for. And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met. Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.

While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon. She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop. Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone. With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves. Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

Title: Prophecy: An Isle of Myst Novella
Author: Stacie Wilson
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:
Discovering their young daughter, Brianna, is now at the center of an ancient war between Light and Dark and hunted by the evil Shadow Master, the King and Queen of Myst are forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice to not only save their child but their magical realm.

Prophecy, the first novella in the Isle of Myst series, tells the story of the tragic events that set Brianna’s destiny to try and save two worlds in motion, and forge an unbreakable bond between young hearts.





Did you snag any of them? Which ones?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

A Freebie and A Sale

Happy Thursday, everyone! So sorry about the blog post miss yesterday. Things are rather hectic around here in ye olde Jo Michaels office, and I just didn't have the time. Markaza is back from the editor, I'm working on M (good stuff, that), and I'm working on typesetting a book for a lovely client of IBGW. So, yeah, things may be a bit spotty over the next week and a half. Just letting you all know. *grin*

But! Today I have some awesome news from Bella Roccaforte! I woke up to a wonderful e-mail in my inbox that I'm going to share with you. She has a freebie and a box set sale going on.

First up, the freebie!

Title: Moon Crossed (Crescent Hunter Series Episode One)
Author: Bella Roccaforte
Genre: Older YA/NA Paranormal
Length (print): ~ 85 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle FREE (limited time only)

Blurb:
Claire O'Conlan is a hunter, her kind were created to protect humans from feral werewolves. She's desperate to find a cure for the moon-touch. Until she does, the hunt won't stop.

Despite being raised among supernatural creatures, Claire is determined to make college as normal as possible. But childhood habits die hard. She can't seem to stay away from the wolf-borne, and worse, she's falling in love with Cole Jackson, the big bad wolf.

Claire can't resist the undeniable fire Cole ignites within her. They are falling headlong into a forbidden love affair. Hunter and wolf, a dangerous combination inciting war between factions, action from the council and the biggest risk of all, Claire fulfilling her duty and being the hunter that kills Cole.

Will Claire find the cure? Or will their love end in tragedy?

If you remember my review of this book, it was a 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can see the review here. Give it a try. No risk for you, and you may love it.

Now, for the sale!

Title: INK (Fine Lines Series Episodes 0-2)
Author: Bella Roccaforte
Genre: NA Paranormal
Length (print): ~ 604 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99 (limited time only)

Series Blurb:
Shay Baynes made her dreams come true using her nightmares.

Her hit comic Sanguine Specter, based on the horrific murders in her dreams, hits it big. Finally able to feel something other than numbness, Shay's riding high on her success when it all comes crashing down with the bodies of the murder victims.

The crime scenes from Sanguine Specter are a dead ringer for real life murders, all evidence leads back to Shay as the murderer and she's left with little choice but to depend on the two men she's been trying to stay away from.

The INK series is the perfect blend of horror, romance and suspense. Embark on this wild ride of twisted dark urban fantasy. Watch as a 22 year old Shay transforms from someone who needs help, into a strong confident woman with more power than anyone ever imagined. 


So, that's the news for today! I do hope you take a chance on either Moon Crossed or INK.

What do you think? Will you snag one?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Featured Author - Rachael Brownell - Publication Spotlight

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm sharing my featured author's book lineup. If you missed the interview with Rachael Brownell, be sure and check it out here. I'm not gonna ramble on and on today, so grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Title: Holding On
Author: Rachael Brownell
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Length (print): 235 Pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle FREE  ~  Kobo FREE  ~  iBooks FREE  ~  B&N FREE

Synopsis:
For five years Becca has been struggling to hide her feelings for her best friend, Brad. Now she finally has a chance to move on. She’s in a new city, she’s attending a new school, and she’s met the first guy besides Brad who’s held her attention in a long time. Not only is Ethan attractive, he’s an amazing tennis player, and he might just be Becca’s match on and off the courts.

Brad has loved Becca for as long as he can remember. Now that Becca’s family has moved two thousand miles away, Brad may finally be ready to lay his heart on the line and do whatever it takes to hold on to Becca.

But is Brad too late? Or will Ethan’s secret drive Becca back into Brad’s arms? Torn between her love for Brad and the promise of something new and exciting with Ethan, Becca has an almost impossible choice to make, the choice between letting go or holding on.

Title: Unglued (Holding On #2)

Author: Rachael Brownell

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Length (print): 235 Pages

Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis:

“Look in your heart Becca and tell me that you don’t love me and I will walk away but I need for you to say the words cuz I know that deep down you love me as much as I love you .“

Becca’s life has always been complicated when it’s come to choosing between the love of her life and her best friend. Her decision was simple in the end: she chose to keep them both in her life. That is, until Ethan is offered a job on another continent. Does Becca move on in her life with Ethan or is she unable to give up Brad once and for all? The decision is made for her but once she realizes that the wrong decision was made she attempts to right it.

Then tragedy strikes close to home. Will Becca finally realize who was meant to be standing by her side or will she come completely Unglued?

Title: Weakness: Ethan's Novella (Holding On #3)
Author: Rachael Brownell
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Length (print): 235 Pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Synopsis:
"I set her down, place my hands on her cheeks and kiss her like it's the last time I will ever be able to. I can hear our families talking in the background but I don't really care. She will be my wife soon enough. She's already carrying my children. She's my entire world. I've felt an inner strength and an emotional weakness for her since the moment I laid eyes on her." Ethan and Becca's relationship has been far from easy. In the beginning, Ethan had to fight to be with her. After Brad moved to town, he had to fight to keep her. When he walked away he was sure that he lost her. Then Natalie died and he was given a second chance to prove his love to her. Now, Becca is pregnant. With twins! Can Becca and Ethan hold on to the love that they shared? Or will the one secret that Ethan has kept from Becca be the reason their relationship falls apart... for good this time? A lie by omission is still a lie. Ethan's secret comes to light as the final chapter of their story is told through Ethan's eyes. The real question is... Will Ethan and Becca find their happily ever after?

Title: Take a Gamble

Author: Rachael Brownell

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Length (print): 235 Pages

Buy links: Amazon Kindle $1.99

Synopsis:

One summer.
One chance meeting.
One devastating phone call.

MacKenna Trist is not happy about spending a month with her family in Myrtle Beach. She would rather be at home, hanging out with her friends, before starting her senior year of high school. That is, until she meets the guy staying in the beach house next door.

Roe Gamble is speechless when he first lays eyes on Mac. Normally, pretty girls are his specialty but not this girl. From this girl, he wants more. More of everything. More than she can give him. Most importantly, more time to show her how he feels about her.

But time is working against them in more ways than one.

How much time do you really need to fall in love?

What would you gamble to hold onto it?

Title: A Secret Life
Author: Rachael Brownell
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Length (print): 235 Pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $1.99

Synopsis:
“I think you and I were meant to meet. I think all of this was supposed to happen. You are my destiny.”

She never thought that her life would be this complicated. Or this dangerous. Running from her past, Kat and her mom end up in a small Colorado town when Kat run’s directly into her future. She changes everything about herself to try and blend into the background, to go unnoticed. She pushes everyone away and erects walls around herself and her heart. As hard as she tries, though, Kat can’t seem to escape the pull that Cam has on her.

Cam has never been so intrigued by anyone. Not only is Kat the most gorgeous girl he’s ever seen but also the most mysterious. She’s hiding something and he’s hell-bent on finding out what it is. The only problem is that she’s trying to shut him out which only furthers his determination to get close to her.

When Kat learns that her past is catching up with her again she has to run, leaving Cam, and her broken heart, behind.

Title: Secrets & Lies

Author: Rachael Brownell

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Length (print): 235 Pages

Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Synopsis:

Secrets & Lies is a companion novella to A Secret Life. It is recommended to read A Secret Life first.

Magdelyn Becker lost her entire family when she was seventeen. Ever since, she’s avoided relationships at all costs: personal, physical, emotional. She doesn’t trust anyone and won’t allow herself to get close enough to create a connection. It’s the way she is. Take it or leave it. Her new job as an FBI agent has her letting her guard down, and letting the wrong person into her life, her mind and her heart.

Taylor Donovan is tall, sexy and powerful. He doesn’t show emotion and he can spot an agent a mile away. Being an FBI agent is the farthest thing from his mind when he lays eyes on Maggie Becker. She’s beautiful, sweet and honest and honesty is not something that Taylor is used to in his business. It’s her beauty that blinds him, though, and it might be what costs him everything, including his heart.

No one can be honest 100% of the time, not even Maggie. It’s her job to lie to Taylor. It’s her job to break him down then bring him down. The only problem is she has to do it without Taylor realizing it’s happening. After all, Taylor Donovan is supposed to be dead. The FBI shouldn’t be looking for him.

I do hope you'll take a moment and check out a couple of Rachael's books!

See anything you like up there?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Free on Kindle - The Frivolity Fairies: A Christmas Short Story and Bronya - Book One of the Mystic Series

Happy, happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I'm happy to be sharing my freebies (finally)! There are two up for grabs. Enough of my jawing, let's get to the good stuff. *grin* Get your clicking fingers ready!

The Frivolity Fairies: A Christmas Short Story
Get it FREE on Amazon for Kindle, and FREE on Smashwords for all others!
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Christmas
Length: ~35 pages

Synopsis:
It's Christmas Eve, 2014, and thirteen-year-old Shirley is listening to the same bedtime story she's heard every year. This year, she comes face to face with the frivolity fairies from the tale; naughty, careless creatures who cause mischief with no regard to morality. In a tale of Christmas spirit, magic, and happy endings, find out what happens when one little girl sets out to make things right.








Bronya ~ Mystic Book One
Get it FREE on Amazon for Kindle, and FREE on Smashwords for all others!
Genre: New Adult Paranormal (18+ for language)
Length: ~ 108 pages

Synopsis:
This is book one of the Mystic series. A set of New Adult Paranormal novellas that speak out against issues faced in the world today, showing how strong women can overcome anything.

Bronya Thibodeaux is a senior at Houma High School whose life is about to be changed forever. She's always felt like an outcast, but thinks she may have found a friend when a strange, new girl named Markaza who has blue hair, a number of tattoos, and a strange way of dressing appears.

Bronya's life choices make her a pariah in her small town. After getting thrown out of school, not being able to find a job, and being subjected to ridicule and cruel treatment, Bronya chooses to leave her old life behind forever when she receives a compelling invitation from a mysterious company named WSTW.

What Bronya doesn't know, is the mysterious company is owned by Markaza; a mystic who knows the end of the world is coming and is gathering together the only people who can stop the evil that's threatening to take over. Bronya is just the first. But going to New York is only a baby step toward her true journey. As Bronya races against the clock to unlock a power she never knew she had, Markaza races to collect the others: Lily, Shelia, Melody, and Coralie.

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Winners of Iron Pendulum and a Freebie

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have the winners from my Rafflecopter giveaway and announcement of a freebie for you all. Get strapped into that chair and let's get going!

First up, the winners!

Each of these lovelies win an e-copy of Iron Pendulum by Megan Curd.

Alana M.
Wendy P.

Bummed you didn't win? Well, you kind of did! Why?

Steel Lily, book one of the Periodic Series, is FREE right now!

Information about the book:

Title: Steel Lily
Author: Megan Curd
Genre: YA Dystopian with hints of Steampunk
Length (print): 314 pages
Links to Purchase: Amazon—FREE Kindle  B&N—$0.99 Nook

Synopsis:
AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She's a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued. But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn't any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

...Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything...including the fate of your world.

Link to my review of Steel Lily: http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-review-steel-lily.html

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend of reading! Go get that book now and start your journey into the future.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Why a Free Promotion?

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today I'm gonna talk with you all about giving your book away for free and why people do it. There are some pros and cons and I'll be going over all of it. So, if you're ready, grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going!

First, let's discuss the stigma surrounding free.
You've just spent six to twelve months writing and editing a novel. Your blood, sweat, and tears have gone into this story on the page, and you're frustrated about giving it away for nothing. Understandable. Believe me, I get it. Anything you spend that much time developing might sting when someone downloads it for nothing. There's also the fear that people will think you can't sell a book and have to give them away (not true, but you can see where they might jump to that conclusion). However, maybe it's time to change the way we look at free and try to see where it begins to behoove us when we give a book away.

We're gonna have a moment discussing free print books.
Now, everyone is probably familiar with the giveaways on Goodreads. Why do we bother giving away print copies of our books (on that site, and in other giveaways)? Because they're signed, and we want people to sort of covet what we take the time to write our names in. Most of all, we want readers to add our books to their TBR list. That's where the key is. We want to be remembered.

Why does that make a difference? Well, sometimes, when a reader is excited about winning a certain book, they'll go on to buy it if they don't win it. Make sense?

Okay, let's move on to giveaways of e-books.
These work a little bit differently. When you give away an e-book, it's more about what's inside besides the story or what else is coming that matters.

For example:

• A snippet or two of other books you've written
• This is the first of a series (to be released)
• Your social media contact information
• Giving a sample of your writing to potential fans

If you're running a free promotion, there should be some reason behind it. Either you're trying to build a fan base, you want your rank on Amazon to jump up really high (some hit the top 100 in their genre), or you're hyping up another book that's A. Just been released or B. Will be coming soon.

There are many reasons behind free. Make sure you're deciding what yours are before you jump on the bandwagon. That way, you can have some way to measure your success. After all, you need something to snag a new fan, right? Rafflecopter giveaways can't carry everything. But, like anything, there are cons.

The cons of free:

• Many people download a free book and never read it
• If no protection, your book could end up on a pirate site perma-free
• Your book isn't put in front of those who would enjoy it; rather, it's sent to everyone
• You make no money off this publication while it's free
• You may end up with a troll review or two

If you're willing to brave these cons, and put your hope in readers who will get hold of your book and read the heck out of it, you're ready to do free. Like I said above, be sure you know what your ultimate goal is.

Speaking of free and giveaways, come on back to the blog tomorrow for your chance to win a couple of books and some Amazon cash!

How about you? Have you done free promotions? What did you get out of it?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

I, Zombie Stats Thus Far

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! What a wild day it was around here yesterday, huh? We had some awesome reviews for I, Zombie to check out, a giveaway, and a free book to download! Well, today there's more! I have more reviews for the book, and some early statistics for you to feast your eyes upon. Let's get going!

First up, I'm gonna share some more reviews with you! I didn't want to overwhelm you all yesterday with a billion reviews to check out, so I'm posting the rest today. Enjoy! Be sure and click the links, go leave the reviewers some love, and download your free copy!

"Trixie and Jack don't get much time together in the beginning of the book before the infection starts to spread. Jo did a wonderful job making me feel the pain and misery of having your body fail when your mind is still thoroughly intact."

~  Amber Garr 4/5 Stars!  ~

"If you love good clean books then this one is for you!  If you love Zombie books, this one is for you! If you love books with a touch of romance, and a touch of action, then this one is for you!"

~  Ohana Day Academy 5/5 Stars!  ~ 

"Overall this was a creative read and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story. I look forward to more books by Jo Michaels. I would recommend this novel to zombie lovers and zombie sympathizers lol."

~  Justine on Amazon 4/5 Stars!  ~

"I enjoyed this bit of fantasy very much. These teens have a grip on reality, and a kindness for others not often seen in today's world."

~  sweetpea on Amazon 5/5 Stars!  ~

"This story is essentially about a small southern town whose young people are infected and the various ways everyone deals with that. It's about friendship and love, heartbreak and loss. It is truly an incredible read if you're looking for something that will make you feel."

~  Tawnya @ One More Chapter on Amazon 5/5 Stars!  ~

Now for some pictures and stat updates!

As you can see, the beginning of the day had the book at #21 for YA Horror and #3,738 overall. However, by this morning, it jumped to here:

It jumped to #1 in YA Horror, #11 in Literature and Fiction Horror, and #353 overall.

I'm blown away. Not only because the book is doing so well right now; but, also because I know it's due to every single one of my fans sharing and screaming about it from the rooftops.

Thank you all SO much for helping me make the launch awesome!

Remember, it's free through Monday so keep sharing!! If you haven't picked one up, go grab it here!

Here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

If you've read it, please be so kind as to leave a review.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

I, Zombie Release Day Fun

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today's the big day! I've sent I, Zombie out into the world for you all to consume and enjoy. Let's get this party started right. Get your clicking finger ready!

First, be sure you've entered the Goodreads giveaway for your chance to win one of four signed, printed copies of the book.

Enter here:

I, Zombie Goodreads Giveaway

Second, read a couple of the fabulous reviews from my ARC reviewers! Just click the links to get to the whole review. And please leave these wonderful folks some love while you're there.

"It is a fun and beautiful story. An emotional read, with words painted to beautiful perfection. Unique and Intriguing. I loved every minute of it."

~  Casey L. Bond 5/5 stars!  ~

"This book rocks! You will fall in love with Trixie and several other characters. From page one, it's a constant thrill ride. But, more importantly, it's a story with heart and soul--a great read for action-seekers as well as those who want to connect with characters."

~  Mom in Love with Fiction 5/5 stars!  ~

"Seeing things from the infected's point of view? Different. This one pulls at the heartstrings, too - needed some tissues. I appreciate the author keeping the book fairly clean - although there were a few gory details, nothing was revolting or overdone."

~  Pauline Creeden The Book Ninja 5/5 stars!  ~

"Two-parts horror, one-part romance, this book is a great addition to any persons electronic book shelf."

~  Regan Claire 4/5 stars!  ~

"This novel was a quick and easy read that kept me turning pages –  With quirky banter between best friends, classmates hunting each other down, zombie themed chapter names, and of course a little bit of love."

~  Elyse Schramm Contagious Reads 4.5/5 stars!  ~

"Within the first few pages I found myself anticipating what was going to happen and anxious to get to the end so I could know the whole story."

~  Nichole Greene 5/5 stars!  ~ 

Last, we move on to informational type stuff; like where you can get a copy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: YA Horror
Length (print): 262 pages
Purchase Links: Createspace $14.99 Amazon Kindle $3.99 FREE!

Synopsis:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?


What's a release day without something special to go along with it? For the next five days, you can pick up a copy of this book absolutely FREE. That's right, I said free. What are you waiting for?

My humble request is that you please leave a review after you finish the book. Easy peasy.

Thanks for popping by! And, if you'd like to share the zombie goodness with your friends, here are a few premade posts for you:

For Twitter:

Love #Zombies? Grab this #KindleFreebie today: http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 Plz RT & get one #FREE. #Horror #YA

Looking 4 a #FREE #YA #Horror novel? http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi 1/9-13 only on #Kindle Please RT & get your own!

For Facebook:

If you love #zombies or #YoungAdult then you'll squeal over this free ebook - http://bit.ly/1cYCdYi

Thanks for joining me today for my release! If you've read it already, tell me your favorite part!

Don't forget to follow Trixie on Twitter while you're here. Some fun stuff coming from that account soon!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Even More Amazing Giveaways! Kindles, Money, and Books Galore!

HAPPY CYBER MONDAY! I was supposed to have a guest post from author Megan Curd for you all today, but things happen and it's not going up. I'm gonna share awesomeness with you instead. Today, the web is full of sales, contests, and giveaways! I'm here to link you up! We'll start with a recap of Sunday's fantastic post and move on to the others.

A $500 Shopping Spree at Amazon!

This giveaway is being held by The Kindle Book Review and Digital Book Today.

You can enter HERE.

You have a chance to win every day between now and Christmas! It's the Unofficial UtopYA 25 Days of Giveaways. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors planning to attend UtopYA Con 2014. If you don't have tickets to the event yet, grab them by clicking the name.

Here's the rafflecopter entry form for that giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My New Adult Paranormal Mystic series is still on sale and going strong through tomorrow at midnight! Links:
BRONYA
LILY

SHELIA
MELODY
CORALIE

If you love great books with strong females, this series is for you!

Ms. Tabitha Vargo is having a huge giveaway, too! Yeah, I'll share the code; it's the least I can do.

Oh! Wait! Did I say a giveaway? I meant she's having giveawayS! One is US only and the other is international. Surprise!

Here's the US only rafflecopter entry form:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And, there's the international one:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, this lady has gone completely nutso! She's giving away a prize every day for 31 days! It's a Facebook event and you can join here: Julia Crane's 31 Days of Giving!

Day one was a Kindle, day 2 is $25 Amazon gift card, I'm wondering what day 3 will bring. Yeah, I know that was full of comma splices... Moving on!

These books are all on sale for $0.99 each!

Big, Bad Bite
Secret Maneuvers (Ex Ops Series)
The Lady of Steinbrekka
Heart of Kylassame
and three e-books by Lisa Collicutt

I hope you all enjoy these awesome giveaways and sales!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

$500 Amazon Shopping Spree 2 Kindle Fire HDXs and More!

Hello and welcome to a very special Sunday edition of the blog! Today I have some awesome giveaways for you just in time for the holidays! Get your clicking finger ready and let's GOOOOOO!!

First up: A $500 Shopping Spree at Amazon!

This giveaway is being held by The Kindle Book Review and Digital Book Today.

You can enter HERE.

Second: You have a chance to win every day between now and Christmas! It's the Unofficial UtopYA 25 Days of Giveaways. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors planning to attend UtopYA Con 2014. If you don't have tickets to the event yet, grab them by clicking the name.

You can enter this giveaway by clicking HERE.

Time for the MORE part!
Grab a copy of Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach FREE until tonight at midnight!

Get it while it's HOT! Grab a copy by clicking HERE!



Last, but not least! The Mystic series is still on sale and going strong through this Tuesday at midnight!

For the only time EVER, you can get all five of the starter books in this series for only $2.97!

Links:
BRONYA
LILY

SHELIA
MELODY
CORALIE

You save TEN DOLLARS!

I know, crazy stuff on the table today! Get out there and enter, grab freebies, and have FUN!

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Two Amazing Giveaways

Happy Monday, blogospherians! I hope you're all looking forward to an amazing work week! Five days to get some words written or some book covers designed. Today, I'm bringing you some amazing giveaways from some awesome authors. Get out there and enter!

First up, the 4,000 Like Giveaway from Rebecca Ethington:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And now, the Dauntless Indies EPIC Fall Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to you all!!

Come 'round tomorrow when I'll be giving a lesson (with screenshots) on setting up a book cover for designing!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Writing Prompts and Exercises PLUS a Kindle Fire Giveaway

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Using the information we went over this week, I'm giving you some writing prompts to help you flex your muscles. These may seem a little weird, but go with it, okay? Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!

Today, I'm encouraging you to be a:

That's right; don't plan anything out with these prompts. Just write. Make your goal at least one page of words for each prompt.

• Betty and Mark are having an argument which you're involved in. If you're a male, you've slept with Betty behind Mark's back. If you're a female, use it the other way around. Keep it in first person, present tense. By the end of the scene, I want to know how it happened and why your friendship is (was) so deep with the other person. **RESTRICTION** Don't describe their specific appearance. No details on what they're wearing or what they look like.

• Angela is speaking to you, the writer. Let her tell you what you're going to do tomorrow. Set the scene in first person, future tense. You decide on the setting. **RESTRICTION** She can't be a fortune teller or a psychic.

• A burglar is breaking into a house. Your reader is the thief. Write this in second person, past tense. By the end of the scene, I want to know why your thief decided to become a criminal and what their worries were as they did it. Describe the house and the things they're stealing. I want to know why they chose the items they did. **RESTRICTION** They aren't allowed to rob anyone who's wealthy.

• Steve stepped into a time machine. He's going back in the past to right a wrong. You decide on the relationship between Steve and the person he's protecting/saving with his actions. Write this in third person limited, past tense. By the end of the scene, I want to know everything he experienced/thought as he rode in that machine. **RESTRICTION** You can't use someone Steve knows and I don't want to know anything that happened after he arrives at the location. This is about why he's doing it and for whom.

• You're watching a group of kids on the playground, fighting. You're an observer and have no dog in the fight. Let's see third person omniscient in present tense. By the end of the scene, I should know what the fight was about, what every character is thinking/feeling, and everything they see/do for at least ten minutes. **RESTRICTION** One of the characters must be disabled in some major way. This character must end up as the hero/winner, and I must feel something for him/her.

I hope this gives you all something to do over the weekend. Remember, have fun with it.

As an aside, if you would like a shot at winning a Kindle Fire and a ton of books to go along with it, click this link and head on over to the rafflecopter form: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaethington.author/app_228910107186452

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Enneagram Types - Conclusion

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today is the tenth and final post in my series on Enneagram Personality types. Rather than just have you typing your characters and following the Enneagram model, I'm going to give you food for thought today. You've been (hopefully) working through the dialogue exercises and have a pretty good grasp of how specific character types will react in certain situations. You can combine these types with an understanding of Human Nature and really dream up characters that make an impact. I'll show you how. So grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!

Here's a recap of all the posts from the series:
Type #1 - The Reformer
Type #2 - The Giver
Type #3 - The Achiever
Type #4 - The Artist
Type #5 - The Observer
Type #6 - The Questioner
Type #7 - The Adventurer
Type #8 - The Leader
Type #9 - The Peacemaker

I used definitions of each type from a book titled: The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People. That's the link to the Kindle edition, if you choose to check it out for yourself.

So, if you've been following along, you now know what drives each type of person to do the things they do. You'll also have a pretty good grasp of how these characters interact if you've been doing the exercises at the bottom of the posts.

Let's talk about how to bring these characters to their knees, shall we?

Ones are perfectionists. This means they're a little on the OCD side and they try to push their perfectionism onto others. They enjoy dotting the I's and crossing the T's. Think for a moment about what would drive a One up the wall.  If you're using a One as a main character, consider putting them up against something they can't control or can't change the outcome of; no matter how much they want to.

Fives are watchers. Rarely do they get into the thick of things. They prefer to read about things to learn how to do them rather than learning by trying. These folks usually have the right answer. But what would drive them batty? Being wrong all the time, never knowing what's really going on, or even being forced to take control of a situation.

When you study the Enneagram, you're looking for a deeper sense of self. It will tell you what your pitfalls are and how to avoid them. Character insight goes from surface understanding to truly knowing what your character feels, thinks, and how they'll react in any given situation.

What else does understanding give you?

The ability to know just how to hit them where it hurts, make them sublimely happy, or change them in some profound way. Wait, change them? Why would you want to change a great character?

Every character is on a journey. They must change in some profound way from page one to the end of the book. Without the journey, you have no story. If you have no change, your character will seem like one that can't learn from their mistakes. They come off flat. Using the Enneagram will prevent unbelievable change. Know what they tend to when stressed or happy. Put it to good use.

You should think about what kind of character you're writing before you ever put down the first word. Now, there's a caveat to this! Maybe you have a great character and don't know yet what their personality type is. My suggestion is to use free-writing via dialogue. Sit down and have a conversation with that character. Let them show you just who they really are. Once you have that down, you're golden.

As writers, we tend to base our characters on people we know well. We don't even realize we're doing it half the time. But we're familiar with their personality so we're in our comfort zone. Keep this in mind. There's nothing wrong with doing it that way, just make sure you have the greatest understanding possible.

I hope this series has helped you in some way. Character driven stories are pretty popular. Think: Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, or the Percy Jackson series.

How will you use the Enneagram? For personal or writing purposes?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Peacemaker - Enneagram Type #9

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I give you the last of the Enneagram types: The Peacemaker. Tomorrow, we'll go into how you can use these personality types in a different way. So far we've been delving into the human mind and extracting what makes people tick. I'm gonna show you how to use that knowledge to create lots and lots of drama. So be sure you come on back tomorrow for the final installment of the series! Grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going.

As always, I'll begin with links to the first posts of the series:
Type #1 - The Reformer
Type #2 - The Giver
Type #3 - The Achiever
Type #4 - The Artist
Type #5 - The Observer
Type #6 - The Questioner
Type #7 - The Adventurer
Type #8 - The Leader

I'll be using definitions of each type from a book titled: The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People. That's the link to the Kindle edition, if you choose to check it out for yourself.

Today, we talk about #9 - The Peacemaker.
Definition: Peacemakers are motivated by the need to keep the peace, merge with others, and avoid conflict. Since they, especially, take on qualities of the other eight types, peacemakers have many variations in their personalities, from gentle and mild mannered to independent and forceful.

Nines are usually pretty easy to spot. They tend to try and diffuse a situation by offering some excuse for the other person or entities' behavior. Some of the more aggressive types might the Peacemaker as taking sides with those who behave badly. It will probably piss the other type off.

At their best, Peacemakers are some of the most pleasant people to be around. They always fit in with a group of people and are seen as the most understanding of the nine types. However, when they're stressed or having a bad day, you'll be face-to-face with one of the strangest people you'll ever meet. It's like a total personality change. Where you've had this calm, nice, understanding person before, you'll be faced with a roaring lion that can't seem to focus on anything and passive-aggressively attacks you.

Never will a Nine ask for what they want. They'll be so focused on you and your needs, they'll overlook themselves. But the dam breaks eventually and the Nine will begin to act a lot like a Four; bringing drama to the table you may not be able to handle. After their meltdown, they'll feel bad and try to patch things up.

Peacemakers don't make good antagonists because they desire peace at any cost.

This leads us to the exercise for today!

You have a Peacemaker that just broke up an argument between a Reformer and an Artist. Show how the Peacemaker acts when under duress. Use a lot of action. Have both the One and the Four yell at the Nine. Make them throw things. Create a hurricane your character must traverse. It's up to you how it all ends, but remember to have some fun with it.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the final post!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Leader - Enneagram Type #8

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Wednesdays always make me think of weddings. You got wed on a Wednesday. How charming. Okay, enough drivel. We're continuing with our Enneagram personality types today! The Leader (also can be called The Asserter) is a fun type of character for an action novel or as comic relief for a lighter read like chick-lit. Grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going!

As always, I'll begin with links to the first posts of the series:
Type #1 - The Reformer
Type #2 - The Giver
Type #3 - The Achiever
Type #4 - The Artist
Type #5 - The Observer
Type #6 - The Questioner
Type #7 - The Adventurer

I'll be using definitions of each type from a book titled: The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People. That's the link to the Kindle edition, if you choose to check it out for yourself.

Today, we talk about #8 - The Leader.
Definition: Leaders are motivated by the need to be self-reliant and strong and to avoid feeling weak or independent.

Leaders are assertive and often end up getting themselves into trouble with their constant fight for what's right. They can be martyrs, sacrificing themselves for the "greater good." If you use a leader in your novel, do it with caution if they aren't the main character. They'll steal the spotlight every time if you allow them to.

Using an Eight as your protagonist might just be the kick you need to really catapult your story into the next realm of awesomeness. They're assertive, loyal, and fiercely protective of those they love or their own ideals.

When they're bad, you see a control freak that can go overboard with their wants and needs. Leaders make great bad guys; but they can also make a compelling good guy. Remember Peeta in The Hunger Games?

All this leads us to today's exercise!
Create a leader who's angry about deforestation in their area. When the machines show up to cut down the trees, put a Three in the role of foreman. Allow the scene to write itself. What the Eight will do should be based upon their feeling of injustice to the trees. Use action tags with only a few dialogue tags as the two go at it. Remember, you can use a woman and a man, two women, or two men. Do something unexpected. Have fun with it!

Is there someone in your life who's a cut-and-dry Leader? What causes do they fight for?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Adventurer - Enneagram Type #7

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, we talk about an exciting personality type: The Adventurer. When you read the book about the different types of people, you'll start typing people in your head. Heck, you may be doing it now, from these blog posts! I urge you to pick up a copy of the book and have your friends or loved ones answer the typing questions at the start of each chapter. You may be surprised. Someone you've nailed down as a Three may end up being a closet One or Eight. It's a lot of fun. Well, grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going!

As always, I'll begin with links to the first posts of the series:
Type #1 - The Reformer
Type #2 - The Giver
Type #3 - The Achiever
Type #4 - The Artist
Type #5 - The Observer
Type #6 - The Questioner

I'll be using definitions of each type from a book titled: The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People. That's the link to the Kindle edition, if you choose to check it out for yourself.

Today, we talk about #7 - The Adventurer.
Definition: Adventurers are motivated by the need to be happy and plan enjoyable activities, contribute to the world, and avoid suffering and pain.

This character is fun-loving, enthusiastic, and charming when on their game. They're also clingy, needy, and a wee bit self-destructive when they aren't. Never being happy with what life gives them, they're constantly searching for more.

Your reader may see the character as impulsive and want to slap their face. Or, the reader may wonder why in the hell this character would act they way they do. Especially if your reader is a Five or Six.

Adventurers are reckless and love the element of danger. They sometimes seek it out if life becomes too hum-drum. These actions can cause trouble or a lot of fun! Great characterization can be done if you create a protagonist who's a Seven.

On to today's exercise!
Write two pages of dialogue between a Seven and a Three. Remember, the character types on either side, called wings, also influence the actions of a person (we'll go into this more on Friday). A Three will also have traits of a Two and a Four. Keep your Seven firmly in their type while allowing the Three to lean one way or the other. Your scene? A crowded bar with loud music and lots of dancing. Threes are workaholics so go with the flow and enjoy writing. Don't paint the scene through anything but dialogue. Use no inner-monologue for this exercise.

What was your favorite book with a Seven as the protagonist?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo